GCAP Stars at Farnborough 2026

July 27, 2026

by Thomas W. Pohl

Full-Scale Mock-Up of Edgewing's Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter at Farnborough International Airshow 2026

Introduction

At the 2026 edition of the bi-annual Farnborough International Airshow, which took place from July 20^th through the 24^th in the United Kingdom, the star of the show was undoubtably the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter. Edgewing, the multi-national company that will build the GCAP, displayed a full-scale mockup of their 6^th generation fighter that is currently in joint development by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.

Full-Scale Mock-Up of Edgewing's Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter at Farnborough International Airshow 2026

Canada Joins Program as a GCAP Observer

The biggest news coming out of the show was on Day 1 was when Canada officially signed on to the GCAP program as a GCAP Observer. According to a statement released by Canada’s Department of National Defence:

“On July 21, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Japanese Defense Minister KOIZUMI Shinjirō, UK Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting, and Canadian Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty met in London to discuss Canada’s participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The Ministers of Italy, Japan and the UK welcomed Canada’s participation as an Observer, and all four Ministers welcomed the opportunities arising from this important development. This announcement marks an important step in strengthening cooperation among trusted, like-minded partners through the Programme.

Observer status will provide Canada with enhanced insight into GCAP and an opportunity to deepen its understanding of the Programme’s governance, capabilities and industrial framework, as well as the related security requirements and wider partnering opportunities.

For Italy, Japan and the UK, Canada’s involvement will also support greater alignment of strategic priorities and deepen mutual understanding of future combat air ambitions, thereby strengthening global security.

Since the Programme’s inception, GCAP has been founded on the principle that international collaboration delivers significant benefits. In a complex global security environment, Italy, Japan, and the UK have remained committed to engaging with trusted allies and partners to strengthen the Programme and maximise its long-term strategic impact.

As they begin this new phase of the Programme, the Ministers of Italy, Japan, and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to openness, collaboration with like-minded partners, and the delivery of a next-generation combat aircraft capable of meeting future security challenges.”

Press Conference Announcing that Canada has Officially Signed onto the GCAP Program as a GCAP Observer

Germany Checks Out GCAP Program

Germany was also feeling out the GCAP Program after the collapse of the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS/SCAF’s New Generation Fighter (NGF) program.

The cancelled Franco-German- Spanish FCAS/SCAF's New Generation Fighter (NGF)

As far as national bodies, Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani said he could easily see the benefit of, say, Germany joining, but he warned any major change would likely cause “disruption.”

Berlin would make a “strong industrial partner,” he said, but “another nation joining, another group of industries joining the program would risk [producing] some delays, while at the moment, on the contrary, we are fully committed to the 2035 [service entry] date.”

Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani

On the industrial side, a senior Airbus official said the defense behemoth is feeling out its own potential GCAP role, though there could be a high bar for joining.

“So your question was: Is Airbus ready to join GCAP? And my answer would be: it depends,” Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Defence and Space CEO, told reporters in London on July 21st, during a company briefing. “What we’re ready to do is to join something or to build something where we have a significant portion of the work and the leadership, and that’s currently being explored.”

Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Defence and Space CEO

Combat Flying Air Demonstrator (CAFD) Technology Demonstrator

BAe Systems announced at the show that the GCAP’s technology demonstrator, known as the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator (CAFD), was now fifty-percent complete and is scheduled to take flight before the end of 2027.

Official Rendering of BAe Systems Combat Air Flying Demonstrator (CAFD) Technology Demonstrator

The CAFD takes a similar approach to risk mitigation that Bae Systems utilized when they built the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) technology demonstrator as part of the Eurofighter Typhoon program.

BAe Systems Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) technology Demonstrator for the Eurofighter Typhoon Program

Eurofighter Typhoon

BAe Systems also released official artwork of the CAFD as well as it shows the fuselage of the jet being built at the BAE Systems facility in Samlesbury. Meanwhile, the wings and fins are being built at Warton, from where the aircraft is due to fly before the end of 2027.